Psalm 119:129-136 NKJV
פ PE
129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.
In today’s portion of Psalm 119 the psalmist praises God for His wonderful testimonies (His ordinances, His witnesses), longs for God’s commandments, asks God to direct His steps by His Word, and asks that God’s face would shine upon him.
You, dear saint, are to pray these words and make these same requests and petitions from God as well. Why? Well, because you are a sinner; your own fleshly will is naturally against the things of God. In your day-to-day life you regularly turn away from God’s Word. Your sinful nature always leans away from everything godly and spiritually good for you. Your steps are naturally guided away from God and toward sin and rebellion.
Repent. Repent and turn, in faith, to God in Christ. Repent of all your sins and sinful ways and in faith return to Your Maker and Redeemer who will never lead you astray or leave you without help and strength for whatever it is that you face.
Turn in faith to Christ Who gives you His forgiveness through His suffering and death which has paid for all your sins. Turn in faith to Christ Who unites you with His death and resurrection in Holy Baptism. Turn in faith to Christ who absolves you through His servant, your faithful pastor, through Holy Absolution. Turn in faith to Christ who gives you His true body and blood, under bread and wine, in Holy Communion.
God’s face indeed shines on you – He is graciously disposed toward you – through His Son’s work on the cross for you. And in faith, never forget these things so that your life and work abound to God’s glory and the good of your neighbor.
Let us pray: Praise and honor belong to You, O God, because You have given us Your Word, by which You clothe our poor and naked souls in the garments of salvation and bring us heavenly and abiding treasures. Fashion our hearts by Your Holy Spirit that we may crave not the things of this earth, but desire heavenly things; through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord. Amen.